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The United States plays its third game in the World Cup Thursday morning, taking the pitch against Germany. U.S. Soccer's huge viewing party is expected to attract more than the 20,000 fans who came out for the Portugal game. NBC5’s Susan Carlson reports. (Published Wednesday, Jun 25, 2014)

Updated at 8:24 AM CST on Thursday, Jun 26, 2014

The thousands of fans expected to pack Grant Park for Thursday's World Cup viewing match are expected to be rowdy, but they may also be a little more sober.

Metra announced Wednesday that alcohol will be banned from all trains on Thursday in anticipation of the large number of people expected to head toward the park for the 11 a.m. game featuring the U.S. versus Germany.

US-Portugal Party Draws 20,000

Chicagoans turned out in massive numbers to experience the game between U.S. and Portugal on Sunday. (Published Thursday, Jun 26, 2014)

An estimated 20,000 soccer fans watched the U.S. team take on Portugal at Sunday's viewing party, and even more could pack the park on Thursday because the outcome could determine whether the Americans advance.

"It matters, so we might get a bigger crowd for sure. We've seen a build up as things have gone on," said Mike Gressle of the U.S. Soccer Federation.